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The Radiologist Will See You Now Premiere Contest Winner

"Where does it hurt?" She asks, clipboard like a shield, pen cocked like a firing pin. "Here," I say, pointing to the silence just beneath my ribcage. Not the lungs. Not the liver. The place where sorrow goes to calcify. They send me down long corridors, all white noise and flickering fluorescents— like memory on a bad day. I wear a gown that opens in the back, like every conversation I regret. Inside the machine, I lie still as a kept secret. The MRI growls like an old god, searching my insides for evidence of war crimes. I think about the shrapnel— not metal, but moments. The look she gave me the night everything broke, like she was already ghosting through the wreckage of my voice. I tell the technician: It’s there. I can feel it. Each breath razors against it. But the scan is clean. No foreign objects. No narrative. They call it “psychosomatic” like it’s a compliment, like my body is staging a play my mind refuses to direct. Back in the doctor's office, she says, "There's nothing inside you." And I laugh—sharp and wrong. Isn't that what pain is? The something that feels like everything and shows up as nothing? I ask if she can x-ray a metaphor. She doesn’t smile. Just types and nods and offers a pamphlet on stress management as if I haven't already built cathedrals from my coping mechanisms. I leave with no diagnosis— just a quiet war still raging beneath my skin. A soldier in peacetime, saluting ghosts that never made it into the file.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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Date: 5/18/2025 8:12:00 PM
You certainly deserved your win. This is amazing- I followed your writing with vigor. But my heart and head hurt too from your pain... God touch you tonight.
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Aaliyah O'Neil
Date: 5/19/2025 1:08:00 PM
Thank you so much for your heartfelt message. I’m truly touched that the piece resonated with you so deeply. Your kind words mean a great deal, and I’m grateful for your support and empathy. Wishing you peace and warmth tonight as well.
Date: 5/17/2025 5:05:00 PM
Congratulations on placing in my contest. I thoroughly enjoyed your impressive take on my prompt. The way you use metaphors is quite refreshing. The final stanza of your poem truly hits hard. Thank you for writing.
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Aaliyah O'Neil
Date: 5/19/2025 1:08:00 PM
Thank you very much for your kind words and for the opportunity to take part in your contest. I'm truly honoured to have placed, and I'm glad the piece resonated with you—particularly the final stanza. Your thoughtful feedback means a great deal to me. I really appreciated the prompt and the creative space it provided.
Date: 5/14/2025 9:36:00 AM
This is a superb piece of writing Aaliyah. Congratulations on your top win. "..like my body is staging a play my mind refuses to direct.." Bloody brilliant. :) Cheers - Gary
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Aaliyah O'Neil
Date: 5/14/2025 6:46:00 PM
Thank you so much for your thoughtful message and kind congratulations. I’m truly honored that the piece resonated with you, and it means a great deal to hear that particular line stood out—your words are genuinely appreciated. Thank you again for your support and encouragement.
Date: 5/13/2025 8:45:00 AM
Dear aaliyah i read this in awe , in admiration, of how clever your metaphors are! One we dont read usually, you really go beyond, and have delivered here one that would leave readers feeling the depth of emotions youv expressed! An exquisite take and one that flows very well! I love the unique and creative and innovative nature of your word weaving! Its good to read authentic poems like yours! And this definitely is a well deserved trophy win! Congratulations! Sending you light
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Aaliyah O'Neil
Date: 5/13/2025 9:38:00 AM
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind and thoughtful words. I'm truly touched by your appreciation of my metaphors and the emotions woven into the piece. To know that it resonated with you on such a deep level means the world to me. Your support and encouragement are both heartening and inspiring. I'm honored by your words and grateful for the light you're sending—I’m sending some right back to you.
Date: 5/13/2025 5:11:00 AM
Congratulations on your top honor in Sara's contest, Aaliyah. You do a splendid job of X-raying metaphors... "built cathedrals from my coping mechanisms." You evoke my mind to remove the top layer of your words and see the reality of what you're really saying. A little bit of digging is what a good poet leaves for readers. I gladly bring a shovel to read your poetry. ;-)
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Aaliyah O'Neil
Date: 5/13/2025 7:24:00 AM
Thank you so much for the congratulations and for your thoughtful comment. I’m really glad you connected with the metaphor of "building cathedrals from my coping mechanisms." Writing about my experiences and struggles often involves uncovering layers of pain and resilience, and I love that you’re willing to dig deeper and explore the truth beneath the surface. It’s such an encouraging feeling to know my work evokes that kind of response. Your support truly means a lot, and I’m grateful for the time you’ve taken to engage with my poetry in such a meaningful way.
Date: 5/12/2025 11:16:00 PM
Aaliyah, this piece really stayed with me. The way you explore invisible pain through such vivid metaphors is so impactful. “They call it ‘psychosomatic’ like it’s a compliment…” and “I wear a gown that opens in the back, like every conversation I regret”—those lines really struck a chord. The introspection woven through every stanza creates such an honest, moving narrative. You have such a rare gift for expressing what so many feel but struggle to say. One of the most unique voices I’ve read.
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Aaliyah O'Neil
Date: 5/13/2025 7:22:00 AM
Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m really touched that you find my voice unique. Writing has always been a way for me to share my story and transform my pain into something beautiful. It’s not always easy, but there’s something empowering about taking those difficult experiences and giving them meaning through words. I’m so glad it connected with you, and your support means more than I can express. Thank you for taking the time to read and share your thoughts.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things